POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER PRESUMPTION — FIRST
RESPONDERS
1302. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to the minister's
response to question without notice 1190 asked on 22 November regarding
presumptive post-traumatic stress injury protections for fire and emergency
services personnel, to which he stated, ''I am not responsible for
ambulance workers.''
(1) How many
firefighters have assisted with driving ambulances this year?
(2) Given that it
has been almost one year since the government announced presumptive protection
for ambulance workers, when will the minister provide comparable protection to
volunteers and employees in the fire and emergency services organisations?
(3) Has the
government advised the United Professional Firefighters Union that an expansion
of presumptive protections must be bargained for as part of enterprise
bargaining agreement negotiations?
(4) If yes to
(3), was this the case for ambulance workers?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) A total of 77
firefighters assisted.
(2) The
Department of Fire and Emergency Services' existing arrangements are
effective and efficient in managing current PTSI claims. DFES continues to seek
advice and assess the implementation of post-traumatic stress illness
presumption in Western Australia. Volunteers are not part of the workers'
compensation system.
(3) The state
government engages with the United Professional Firefighters Union on a wide
range of matters raised by its members. Enterprise bargaining creates another
forum in which both unions and employers can discuss a wide variety of matters
that are important to the workforce.
(4) Not
applicable.